King Bali Humbles the Pride of Ravana – Story of King Bali and Ravana

There is an interesting story in the Puranas that explains how King Bali humbled the pride of Ravana, the demon king. Once demon King Ravana reached netherworld or Pathala. King Bali was residing at Pathalam after he was pushed down to the underworld by the Vamana incarnation of Vishnu.

Ravana said to King Bali that he was cunningly pushed down to the netherworld and he should avenge this treachery. Ravana said that he was willing to help King Bali in this regard.

King Bali who had realized that Vishnu was the Supreme Truth was not interested in any revenge. Bali then talked about the greatness of Vishnu to remove the ignorance of Ravana.

Ravana was not impressed and said that he was not sacred of Vishnu and he was powerful enough to overpower Vishnu.

King Bali then pointed towards two huge golden mountains nearby and asked Ravana to bring one of the mountains to him to prove that he was so powerful.

Ravana then said that he had lifted the Kailash Mountain and lifting this golden mountain is child’s play for him.

Ravan then attempted to lift the golden mountain. He could not move it an inch. After several attempts, Ravan felt unconscious.

When he woke up he found Bali standing near him.

Ravana said that he felt like all his strength eroding when he attempted to move it.

King Bali then said to Ravana that the two golden mountains were not mountains but the huge earrings of his great grandfather Hiranyakashipu.

Vishnu had defeated Hiranyakashipu. In fact, Vishnu appeared as Narasimha and had lifted Hiranyakashipu along with his earrings and put in his lap to kill the demon.

King Bali wanted to know how Ravana could even think of defeating Vishnu when he could not even move the earring of Hiranyakashipu.